Red Flags and all the excuses in the world · Basildon Hoarding Support Netw

Red Flags and all the excuses in the world

💬 Let’s talk about excuses.

After 8 years running Grotbags Cleaning Services Ltd, I could fill a book with the things I’ve heard from new recruits. And believe me, some of them would make you laugh if they weren’t so ridiculous.

Here are just a few of the “classics” we’ve collected over the years:

🚩 “Got a puncture” (but no photo, no garage receipt).
🚩 “My nan’s sick” (then tagged in the pub on Facebook).
🚩 “My nan died” (again — funny how she’s managed it three times in six months).
🚩 “Alarm didn’t go off” (every other day).
🚩 “Child’s sick” (while posting happy school run photos).
🚩 “Got norovirus” (yet was out last night looking perfectly fine).
🚩 “Doctor’s calling me today” (apparently for 12 hours straight).
🚩 “I hurt my back lifting shopping.”
🚩 “Bus didn’t turn up” (yet Google says otherwise).
🚩 “Didn’t get the rota.”
🚩 “My phone broke.”
🚩 “Family emergency” (never explained, always repeated).
🚩 “Car wouldn’t start.”
🚩 “I’m ill” (but tagged at the nail salon).
🚩 “Locked out.”

Now here’s the truth:

When someone gives me one of these excuses before they’ve even finished their trial week, they’ve actually done me a favour. Because if you can’t show up on Day 1, you’re never going to show up for our clients. And our clients are the reason we exist.

But it doesn’t stop there.

We also get the “I need a minimum of 16 hours” line before they’ve even proven they can do one proper shift. Let’s be clear — we all have the work. The demand is endless. But no serious cleaning company is about to hand out hours to someone who hasn’t shown reliability, consistency, and care.

Here’s how we do it at Grotbags:

✅ We check references.

✅ We require an up-to-date DBS.

✅ We take a copy of your driving licence and car registration.

✅ We train and shadow you for 3–4 weeks before giving you client hours.

Not because we don’t have the work (trust me, we’re overflowing).

But because we will not let our clients down with sloppy standards or red flags.

And that’s the point other business owners will get: our clients rely on us for so much more than “just a clean.” They’re families, vulnerable adults, landlords, councils, Airbnb hosts — people who need us to deliver on time, to the highest standard, every single time.

So yes, I’ve heard every excuse in the book.

And every time, it just makes me more grateful for the team that does show up, that works hard, that cares. Because they’re the ones protecting our reputation, supporting our clients, and living up to what we stand for: The Cleaners That Care.

To the timewasters: keep your excuses.

To the serious ones: show up, prove yourself, and the hours will follow.

#CleaningIndustry #Leadership #Recruitment #EssexBusiness #TheCleanersThatCare

0:15

0 comments